St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1887-08-06

to 60 over and ask the serenading angels
who stood that Christmas night in The
balconies of crystal. If they want tt
know more of the particulars of the cru
clfiXion, they have only to go over anc
ask those who were personal spectators
I while the mountains crouched and the
heavens got black in the face at the spec
tacle. If they want to know more about
the sutferings of the Scotch COyenanters
they have only to go over and ask An
drew Melville. If they want to know
more about the old-time revivals, they
have only to 60 over and ask White.
| field, and Wesley, and Livingston, and
Fletcher, and Nettleton, and Finney. o!
what place to visit in
If eternity were one minute shorter II
would not be long enough for such
sociality. Think of our friends who in
this world were passionately fond of
flowers turned into Paradise! Think of
our friends who were very fond of rails
ing superb fruit turned into the orchard
where each tree has twelve kinds of fruit
at once, and bearing the fruit all the
year round!
What are our departed Christian
friends doing in Heaven, those who on
earth found their chief joy in the Gospel
ministry? They are visiting their old
congregations.
Most of those ministers have got their
people around them already. When |
get to Heaven-as by the grace of God |
am destined to go to that place. will
come and see you all Yea, l will come
to all the people to whom have admin
istered in the Gospel, and to the millions
of souls to whom, through the kindness
of the printing-press, | am permitted to
preach every week in this land and in
other lands-letters coming from New
Zealand and Australia and uttermost
parts of the earth, as we'll as from near
nations, telling me of the souls | have
helped will visit them all. give them
fair notice. Our departed friends of the
ministry engaged in that delectable en-
tertainment now.
But what are our departed Christian
friends who in all departments of use
fulness were busy finding their chief joy
in doing good-what are they doing
now? Going right on with the work.
John Howard visiting dungeons; the
dead women of Northern and Southern
battlefelds still abroad looking for the
wounded; George Peabody still watch
ing the poor; Thomas Clarkson still
looking after the enslaved-all of those
who did good on earth buster since
death than before.
The tombstone not the terminus but
the starting post. What are our de-
parted Christian friends who found their
chief joy in studying God doing now?
Studying God vet. No need of revela-
ton now, for, unblanched, they are face
to face. Now, they can handle the ON
nipotent thunderbolts just as a child
handles the sword of father come back
from victorious battle. They have no
sin, nor fear, consequently. Studying
Christ, not through a revelation, save
the revelation of the scars, that deep
lettering which brings it all up quick !
enough. Studying the Christ of the /
Bethlehem caravansary, the Christ of |!
the awful massacre with its hemorrhage |
of head and hand and foot and side-the |
Christ of the shattered mausoleum-
Christ the sacrifice, the star, the sun, the
man, the God, the Goldman, the man |
God.
But bark the bell of the cathedral
rings-the cathedral bell of Heaven.
What is the matter now? There is
going to be great meeting in the temple.
Worshipers all coming through the
aisles. Make room for the conqueror.
Christ standing in the temple All
Heaven gathering around Him. Those
who loved the beautiful come to look at
the Rose of Sharon. Those who loved
music come to listen to His voice Those
who were mathematicians come to count
the years of His reign. Those who were
explorers come to discover the height
and the depth, and the length and the
breadth of His love. Those who had the
military spirit on earth sanctified, and
the military spirit in Heaven, come to
look at the Captain of their salvation
The astronomers come to look at the
star, The men of the law come
% look at Him. who is the Judge of quick
and dead. The men who healed the sick
,ome to look at Him, who was wounded
or our transgressions.
All different and different forever in
many respects, yet all alike in admira-
ion for Christ, in worship for Christ,
md all alike in joining in the doxology:
Unto Him who washed us from our sins
n His own blood, and made US kings and
priests unto God, to Him be glory in the
;hurch throughout all ages, world with